How to: Avoid the Rigors of Shaving

Everyday (or every other day, depending on your routine), you drag a sharp blade across your face, around your neck, dipping into small crevices around your chin and under your nose. It's no wonder shaving comes with a myriad of potential problems. Herewith, the most common shaving concerns and how to treat them.

Razor Burn

What

Inflamed and irritated skin.

Why

Pressing too hard, using a dull razor or shaving on dry skin.

Treatment

Use a non-irritating shaving cream (look for hypo-allergenic versions labeled "for sensitive skin" like Art of Shaving) and switch to a simple, single-blade razor. Avoid shaving over the same area twice. If the redness persists, take a day or two off between shaves.

What

Red or white pimple-like bumps on your cheeks or neck.

Why

Coarse strands of hair curl back on themselves and bury into the skin.

Treatment

When shaving, don't stretch skin, use as few strokes as possible and only shave in the direction of the hair growth. An astringent with allantoin like Anthony Logistics can help with the swelling and redness. For ingrown hairs you can see beneath the skin, use a pair of clean tweezers to pull it out.

What

Cuts, pierced pimples or small slices of skin.

Why

Careless shaving against the grain, swiping the blade sideways on skin or dull razors.

Treatment

Rinse with cold water and apply a moistened alum block, an age-old remedy. Bloc Osma's uses potassium to clean the wound and close the pores and natural alum, which shrinks the capillaries to stop the bleeding.

The key to straight, even sideburns is to use electric trimmers or a single-blade razor. Square off sideburns so they're even with each other, not your ears. Aim for a length between your eyes and the middle of the ear. Look straight into the mirror and place your index finger at the bottom of each sideburn to check for evenness. Adjust as needed.